204 TIII^ MEDICINE MAN IN NATAL AND ZULULAND. 



possibly it was tlie uuihlonlilo {Euphorbia grandidens) which 

 had been used, but no definite opinion could be given. 



What, then, is to be the future of the medicine man? For 

 many centuries he has been an integral part in the life of the 

 ])eople ; he has their confidence to a remarkable degree, although 

 that confidence may l)e founded largely on superstition ; he is 

 often the only available source from which they may seek to 

 obtain assistance in time of need, and that assistance is sometimes 

 attended with results which are unquestionably beneficial. On 

 the other hand, he is responsible for many evils, his methods 

 are crude and unscientific, often barbarous, and fraught with 

 considerable danger to life; and he is an active factor in pro- 

 moting and fostering a belief in witchcraft as the source of all 

 evil. Should his office be prohibited by law? ought further re- 

 strictions to be imposed? or should all legislation be withdrawn 

 and he be regarded merely as a part of the domestic economy of 

 the Native, without interference on the part of the governing 

 powers? However variously these questions may 'be answered, 

 it will have to be recognized that, whether by warrant of law, or 

 w^ithout. the medicine man will long continue to exist in those 

 districts which are not in close touch with civilization. The 

 solution of the problem may lie in the gradual elimination of the 

 medicine man by the substitution of educated natives who have 

 received some degree of medical training. The evolution df a 

 practical scheme, even if only experimental in its nature, should 

 not present insuperable difficulties. As regards midwifery, 

 something has already been done l)y a Natal doctor who has a 

 large Native practice, and who has trained or is training Native 

 women with encouraging results. 



Confidence in the European doctor is increasing, especially 

 among Natives who have come under direct civilizing influences. 

 Those who are more highly educated would seldom elect to con- 

 sult a medicine man unless impelled to do so by their friends. 

 Many raw Natives have learned to discriminate between skilled 

 and unskilled treatment ; yet many a life is lost through the 

 refusal of parents or friends to allow a child or relative to have 

 proper medical or surgical attendance when such is proferred. 

 Rather must the patient be taken back to the insanitary condition 

 of kraal life, and the ministrations of a Native doctor. Especially 

 have they a dread oi hospitals ; nor will they readily consent to 

 an amputation even as the last means of saving life. The problem 

 generally is one of much per])lexity, but in the interests of the 

 Natives themseh es it should be faced. 



Postscript. — The Rev. A.T. Bryant has devoted much time 

 to the study of Native Medicine. His interesting and able article 

 " Zulu Medicine and Medicine Men " {Annals of the Natal 

 Museum (1909) 2 [i] was not available for reference when 

 this paper was written, nor was there opportunity to seek for 

 further literature, if .such exists, on the subject. 



(Read, July gth, 1918.) 



